The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
January 2008

Church of the Resurrection Sponsors Prison Ministry

In conjunction with the Prison Ministry of The Church of The Resurrection, Centerville, Utah, spearheaded by parishioner Darrell Haller, mentored by The Rev. Michael Milligan, members of the congregation of ECOR have celebrated the traditional service of Lessons & Carols with the inmates of the medium security, Oquirrh Unit, of the Utah State Penitentiary, during Advent for the past seven years.

The group from ECOR is primarily made up of members of the choir, although Milligan has attended, and other parishioners, choir members or not, are always invited to participate. In 2006, Bishop Carolyn came with us and had a great time.

The inmates volunteer to read the lessons, and the musical offerings are a combination of the traditional hymns sung by the group, prepared works by both the ECOR Choir, the inmates themselves, and, afterwards, combined pick-up pieces, taxing our sight-reading ability, but great fun.

We find that the inmates cherish their minimal practice time together every week, and love the time they have with us at this event.

We and they hate to see our time together end, with our going off into the night, and with their going back behind locked doors. It is a very moving, poignant time that we share, and then our group usually meets up somewhere afterwards for soup and salad, and says good-night.

This year, Lessons & Carols at the Prison will be on Dec. 12.

Anyone who would like more information is welcome to contact Darrell Haller, 801-694-5787 or e-mail, a51sun666@netzero.net

—submitted by Wim Ray & Darrell Haller

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